I just bought a 96 Camry with a 2.2. I noticed that when the electric fan runs, the idle is slightly rough. What would cause this? Maybe a voltage regulator? Is the regulator external to the alternator?

 

A/C electric fan or engine cooling electric fan?

 

Don't know for sure which fan it is. I'll have to check. The a/c and defroster were off though. Forgot to state that the car has 112,000 miles.

 

That's ok I was just trying to determine if itwas when the A/C was on maybe the idle-up was notworking.Does theidle drop ordoes the engine start missing? I guess the load on the Alt. could be enough to lower the idle. The voltage Reg is in the Alt. Do your headlights dim when this happens?

 

I don't think the headlights dim substantially. It doesn't seem like the idle drops either. I just feel some vibration in the steering wheel whereas it is pretty smooth until the fan kicks on. I don't think the vibration is from the fan though. It did seem like it could be a miss.

 

Usually if the alt is not putting out the correct voltage or can't keep up the headlights will dim. Can't say about the miss. I guess the draw could lower the voltage enough to the coil that if your plug wires are old it could produce a miss. Clean the battery posts andtestyour wires to start.

 

OK. Thanks for the help.

 

Did you figure it out now?